City Council

BELLEFONTE BOROUGH WORK SESSION and COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 2, 2021 In-Person, Council Chambers AGENDA VIEW LIVE FEED/RECORDING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS–Borough Council meetings can be viewed live on YouTube at https://youtu.be/6CBQb7b_-lo and are also recorded. Recordings can be viewed on CNET, Comcast’s Government Education Channel 7, or at www.cnet1.org 6:30 PM - WORK SESSION (No council action is taken during work sessions)  Diamond Area Safety Improvements/Re-design concepts, Design options included in Agenda materials, Jason Stimmel with Pennoni & Associates – 30 Minutes  Spring Creek Watershed Commissions' Presentation on Phase III one-water plan, PDF included in Agenda materials, Paul Takac – 30 Minutes 7:30 PM COUNCIL MEETING – CALL TO ORDER: Welcome everyone to the Bellefonte Borough council meeting. We will do our best to start council meetings on time and to end them on time. Due to the room acoustics, please speak up when talking so that people can hear what you are saying. All comments and reports should be kept to three minutes maximum. Thank you. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: MOMENT OF SILENCE: ROLL CALL: Mr. Eaton, North Ward Ms. Cleeton, South Ward Ms. Hombosky, North Ward Mr. Brachbill, Vice President, SouthWard Mr. Johnson, Pro Tem, North Ward Ms. Abbott, South Ward Mr. Prendergast, West Ward Mayor Wilson, At Large Mr. Halderman, West Ward Ms. Tosti-Vasey, President, West Ward APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 19, 2021 – Council approval Requested CONSENT AGENDA All items listed on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine and will be acted upon by a single motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless members of the Council request specific items to be removed for separate action. Council Action Requested Finance Stover McGlaughlin Invoice for June 2021 HARB Certificate of 133 N. Allegheny St. (Bellefonte Arts Museum)- Installation of 12”x18” Appropriateness temporary directional sign for the window art display. Communications BASD Annual Homecoming Parade October 7th, 2021. The parade will be at 6 PM starting at Bellefonte Elementary School, proceeding south on Allegheny, then East on Bishop, ending at Rogers Stadium. Communications Request to close portions of Tanney Street, Parkview Heights Block Party, Sunday, September 12, 2021, 4:30-6:30 PM Communications Request to close portions of N. Monroe Street for a Block Party, Sunday, September 5, 2021, 2 PM-9 PM Communications St. John Catholic School - Race for Education 8 AM-2 PM In Governors Park, using pavilions, walking path, restrooms, October 28th, 2021 Communications Centre Safe is requesting to hang strings of purple lights on the lamp post High Street between Allegheny Street and Spring Street during the month of October which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This request requires the use of Borough laband equipment. COMMUNICATIONS (written): Request to hold Special Event - Senator Corman’s Run to Remember the 20th anniversary of 911, Saturday, September 11th, 2021 at 8:46 AM. This run will follow the Herbie’s Hometown Loop route (N Spring St, S Spring St, Crawford St, Blanchard St, Humes Rd, Hughes St, John Miller Lane, E Bishop St, Parkview Blvd, E High St, McAllister St, E Howard St, N. Monroe St, E Curtin St). Road Closures will need to be in place from 7:00 AM-12:00 PM. The opening ceremony and race start will be at the Bellefonte Middle School. A 21-gun salute may take place. A canon may be fired. Council action requested. Request to hold Special Event- Jana Marie Foundation: Mindful Rhythms at Talleyrand Park Gazebo Side on Saturday, August 14, 2021, 10:30 AM- 11:30 AM. Due to being a non-profit the Jane Marie Foundation is asking for a fee waiver. Council action requested. Invitation to 3rd Annual Joint Municipal/EMS meeting on Monday, August 30th, 2021 with a tour at 6:30 PM, Presentation at 7 PM. Please RSVP by August 25th – No council action needed. Walker Township Zoning Ordinance Amendment- No Council Action needed. Downtown Parking Complaint- Council may refer issues to a Standing Committee or Work Session Permitting of Food Trucks- Council may refer issues to a Standing Committee or Work Session Article-Is your Police Department prepared for the recent July 14 Implementation? – Council may refer issues to a Standing Committee or Work Session PUBLIC COMMENT (oral): This Public Comment period is normally reserved for oral comments regarding any action items listed on this meeting agenda. Please state your name and address and which item you are speaking about. Please try to limit comments to three minutes maximum. Mitchell Bradley, Downtown Parking Concerns OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Zoning/Planning  Regular Planning meeting date: August 9, 2021, at 5 PM  Historical and Architectural Review Board (HARB): Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness listed below have been administratively approved. No Council action is needed.  136 W. High St (Corman Sales Office)- repair porch railing  133 N. Allegheny St (Bellefonte Art Museum)- repair and paint back stairs  162 E. Curtin St- install porch railing to match railing in the back of the house  372 Phoenix Ave (Pizza Hut)- installation of two signs to march plaza design  127 S. Potter St (CVS)- repair sidewalk and parking spaces  127 W. Curtin St- repair rubber roofing, can’t be seen from the street  159 E. Curtin St- repair window sill on back of the house NUISANCE CODES Report -  July 2021 Report will be available at the September 7th Meeting REPORTS: Please try to limit all reports to three minutes maximum. If further deliberation is desired on any item,additional time will be placed on an upcoming work session or council agenda. MAYOR—Tom Wilson Parking Meter Revenue June 2021, FYI, No council action requested Update on the bandshell/performance center Project for Talleyrand Park, FYI, No council action requested COUNCIL PRESIDENT—Joanne Tosti-Vasey Updates from Meetings Attended, FYI, No council action requested White House briefings – tourism Grant funds available for Wayfinding Signage FYI, No council action requested BUILDING AND PROPERTY— Frank Halderman, Chair No committee meeting was held since the last council meeting – No action is Requested FINANCE AND GOV’T PERFORMANCE—Deb Cleeton, Chair Committee meeting held July 23rd, Notes Submitted, Council Action Items are listed Below Council Retreat - Consider motion to postpone Council Retreat to early 2022 due to budget constraints and to contract with Strategic Consulting Partners, with a cost of $4,500, in late 2021 to prepare for the council retreat. Council Action is Requested Short-Term Rental Ordinance Stakeholder Meeting with Facilitator - Consider motion to approve a professional services agreement with Strategic Consulting Partners to provide facilitator services for the Short-Term Rental Ordinance Stakeholder Meeting, for the Fee of $3000. The fee will come out of this year’s General Fund budget. Council Action is Requested. PARK AND RECREATION—Melissa Hombosky, Chair July 22nd committee meeting notes submitted, No council action requested Lighting on the Rail Road Pedestrian Bridge being researched – options, costs, etc. No Council action requested at this time. HUMAN RESOURCES—Jon Eaton, Chair Committee meeting will be held on August 4th. No Council action requested SAFETY—Randy Brachbill, Chair No committee meeting was held since the last council meeting – No Council action is requested YMCA Childcare and After School Programs Emergency Plans Received – YMCA Staff indicated they have a new requirement to send these plans to the municipality. The plans have been forwarded to Bellefonte Borough Council and Safety Committee, Emergency Management Coordinator, Bellefonte EMS, Bellefonte Fire Exec Board (via Randy Brachbill), & Bellefonte Police Chief. The Plans were sent to Centre County EMA prior to the Borough receiving them. No Council Action is needed at this time. WATER, REFUSE COLLECTION & COMPOST FACILITY—Doug Johnson, Chair No committee meeting was held since the last council meeting – No Council action is requested STREETS—Mary Abbott, Chair Committee meetings held on July 22nd and 29th Temporary Diamond Area Safety Improvements - Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) has been received for temporary changes – plastic curbing and delineators (purchase was approved at the June 21st Council meeting). Materials are being delivered. Installation to be scheduled. Borough staff will send out a press release prior to the work being done. Council may take action to modify this process Permanent Diamond Area Safety Improvements/Re-design concepts. Consider motion to schedule a public hearing, with dates/times/number of sessions to be determined, to gather public input on redesign concepts. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION—Mike Prendergast, Chair Committee Meeting held on July 21st – No council action items Committee Meeting of August 4th is canceled, next meeting is at 4 PM on August 18th, FYI, No council action needed FirstEnergy joins Electric Highway Coalition, FYI, No council Action needed APPI Advisor July 2021, FYI, No council action needed SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS: SAFER Grant Committee – SAFER Grant funds have been received by the Borough, FYI, No council action needed. Association of Climate Change Officials (ACCO) Advisory Committee Update, Don - FYI, No council action needed. Centre County Airport Authority (Bellefonte Borough is a founding member of this Authority) – Letter received, Authority is asking for input on their interest in changing the name of the terminal airport to “State College” in place of “University Park” to reduce confusion for people not familiar with the airport. See letter for more information. Council Action may be taken to: Approve a motion in favor of this effort; approve a motion against this effort; approve tabling action until after discussion can be scheduled BOROUGH MANAGER—Ralph Stewart Virtual PA Municipal Legal Update, Boroughs Association, August 4th & 5th Session information is included, many relevant sessions, cost of $150. Sessions would be viewed in council chambers, made available for elected and staff. Funds would come from training line items in the budget. Council action requested. Act 65 of 2021 – Imposes new requirements related to Council meeting Agendas – see included article from Borough News. It is my opinion that our current practices are in compliance with the new requirements. No Council action needed. Council Committee Meetings - Potential Sunshine Act issues – Two documents (included in  Packet) – letter involving the Centre Region Council of Governments Solicitor and a court case decision were forwarded to me from Councilmember Halderman. Council may refer issues to a Standing Committee, ask for a legal opinion from the Borough Solicitor or make a motion to advertise all standing committee meetings OLD BUSINESS Cancellation of the August 16th Council Meeting – Council may reconsider the cancellation of the August 16th council meeting since the Council Retreat is not being held in August. The council may reconsider their motion to cancel the August 16th council meeting PA Historical Museum Commission (PHMC) Grant Contract for exterior work (new roof and painting of woodwork) on the Train Station (the building is owned by Bellefonte Borough) – Signed by the council president, waiting for signed, complete copy from State – FYI, No council action needed. Shade Tree Review (trees between the sidewalk and curb, protected by a borough ordinance) and Approval Process – New online Process, success story – Don. FYI, No Council Action needed. NEW BUSINESS Spring Creek Watershed Commission Resolution – The municipalities that make up the Spring Creek Watershed Commission typically vote on the resolution following the presentation (made in the work session prior to this meeting). Council may consider a motion to accept or reject the resolution. Council may consider tabling action on the resolution until the first meeting in September – to receive comments from citizens and the Bellefonte Borough Authority. The resolution could be posted on the borough’s website as soon as possible. PUBLIC COMMENT: This Public Comment period is normally reserved for oral comments regarding items not listed on this meeting agenda. Please state your name and address and the issue you are speaking about. Please try to limit comments to three minutes maximum. ADJOURNMENT: The council meeting will be adjourned at or as close as possible to 9:00 PM TIME PM